2 月 8 日安息日下午
记忆文本：
“上帝必擦去他们眼中所有的泪水；不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀，哭号，疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了。” KJV — 启示录 21:4
Memory Text: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” KJV — Revelation 21:4
“对于许多人来说，罪的起源及其存在的原因是一个令人非常困惑的根源。他们看到了邪恶的作为，及其带来痛苦和荒凉的可怕后果，他们质疑这一切如何能存在于一位拥有无限智慧、力量和爱的主的主权之下。这是一个谜，他们找不到任何解释。由于他们的不确定和怀疑，他们对神话语中清楚启示的、对得救至关重要的真理视而不见。有些人在探究罪的存在时，竭力探寻上帝从未启示过的事物。因此，他们找不到解决困难的办法；那些受怀疑和吹毛求疵倾向的人，会以此为借口拒绝圣经的话语。然而，其他人却未能对邪恶的大问题有令人满意的理解，因为传统和误解模糊了圣经关于上帝的品格、他的政府的本质以及他处理罪恶的原则的教导。 。 GC88 492.1
“To many minds, the origin of sin and the reason for its existence are a source of great perplexity. They see the work of evil, with its terrible results of woe and desolation, and they question how all this can exist under the sovereignty of One who is infinite in wisdom, in power, and in love. Here is a mystery, of which they find no explanation. And in their uncertainty and doubt, they are blinded to truths plainly revealed in God's Word, and essential to salvation. There are those who, in their inquiries concerning the existence of sin, endeavor to search into that which God has never revealed; hence they find no solution of their difficulties; and such as are actuated by a disposition to doubt and cavil, seize upon this as an excuse for rejecting the words of Holy Writ. Others, however, fail of a satisfactory understanding of the great problem of evil, from the fact that tradition and misinterpretation have obscured the teaching of the Bible concerning the character of God, the nature of his government, and the principles of his dealing with sin. GC88 492.1
“不可能解释罪的起源以给出其存在的理由。然而，关于罪的起源和最终的处置，我们可以了解足够的信息，以充分彰显上帝在对待邪恶的所有处理中的正义和仁慈。圣经最清楚地教导说，神对罪的进入毫无责任。神圣恩典并没有任意撤回，神圣政府也没有缺陷，从而导致了叛乱的起义。罪是一个入侵者，它的存在是没有理由的。它是神秘的、不可解释的；原谅它，就是捍卫它。如果能为它找到借口，或者为它的存在找到理由，它就不再是罪了。我们对罪的唯一定义是神的话语中给出的定义。这是“违反法律”；它是与伟大的爱法则相冲突的原则的表现，爱法则是神圣政府的基础。 GC88 492.2
“It is impossible to so explain the origin of sin as to give a reason for its existence. Yet enough may be understood concerning both the origin and the final disposition of sin, to fully make manifest the justice and benevolence of God in all his dealings with evil. Nothing is more plainly taught in Scripture than that God was in nowise responsible for the entrance of sin; that there was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace, no deficiency in the divine government, that gave occasion for the uprising of rebellion. Sin is an intruder, for whose presence no reason can be given. It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it, is to defend it. Could excuse for it be found, or cause be shown for its existence, it would cease to be sin. Our only definition of sin is that given in the Word of God; it is “the transgression of the law;” it is the outworking of a principle at war with the great law of love which is the foundation of the divine government. GC88 492.2
2 月 9 日，星期日
“主啊，还要等多久”
阅读约伯记 30:26、耶利米书 12:1、耶利米书 13:22、玛拉基书 2:17 和诗篇 10:1。这些文本如何将邪恶问题带到人类经验的最前沿？
Read Job 30:26, Jeremiah 12:1, Jeremiah 13:22, Malachi 2:17, and Psalm 10:1. How do these texts bring the problem of evil to the forefront of human experience?
“这个人可能会向教会捐赠大量捐款；但上帝会接受从酒鬼家人那里榨取的钱财吗？它沾满了灵魂的鲜血，上帝的诅咒降临在它身上。神说：“因为我耶和华喜爱公平，恨恶抢夺的燔祭。”教会可能会赞扬一个奉献这样的奉献的人的慷慨；但如果教会成员的眼睛涂了天上的眼药，他们就不会称善为恶，称罪孽为义。主说：‘你们向我献上如此多的祭物有什么用处呢？……当你们来到我面前时，谁要求你们这样做，来践踏我的院宇呢？不要再带来无谓的供奉。香对我来说是可憎的。” “你们的言语已经让主感到厌倦了。你们却说，我们在哪里使他厌烦呢？你们若说，凡行恶的，主都喜悦他们；或者，审判之神在哪里？’”RH May 15, 1894，par. 9
“This very man may make large donations to the church; but will God accept of the money that is wrung from the family of the drunkard? It is stained with the blood of souls, and the curse of God is upon it. God says, “For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt-offering.” The church may praise the liberality of one who gives such an offering; but were the eyes of the church-members anointed with heavenly eye-salve, they would not call good evil and iniquity righteousness. The Lord says, ‘To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?....When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations. Incense is an abomination unto me.’ ‘Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of Judgment?’” RH May 15, 1894, par. 9
阅读马太福音 27:46。你怎样理解耶稣的这句话呢？关于邪恶如何以最引人注目的方式触动上帝，它们传达了什么信息？
Read Matthew 27:46. How do you understand these words of Jesus? What do they convey about how evil touched God in the most striking of ways?
“到了第九个小时，黑暗从人们身上消散，但仍然笼罩着救主。它象征着压在他心头的痛苦和恐惧。没有人的眼睛能看透十字架周围的阴暗，也没有人能看透笼罩着基督受苦灵魂的更深的阴暗。当他挂在十字架上时，愤怒的闪电似乎向他投来。然后“耶稣大声喊着说，以罗伊，以罗伊，喇嘛撒巴他尼？” “我的神，我的神，你为什么离弃我？”当外面的阴霾笼罩着救主时，许多声音惊呼：天上的报应临到了他身上。上帝的愤怒之箭向他投掷，因为他自称是上帝的儿子。许多相信他的人都听到了他绝望的呼喊。希望离开了他们。如果神离弃了耶稣，他的追随者还能信赖什么？” DA 754.3
“At the ninth hour the darkness lifted from the people, but still enveloped the Saviour. It was a symbol of the agony and horror that weighed upon His heart. No eye could pierce the gloom that surrounded the cross, and none could penetrate the deeper gloom that enshrouded the suffering soul of Christ. The angry lightnings seemed to be hurled at Him as He hung upon the cross. Then “Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” As the outer gloom settled about the Saviour, many voices exclaimed: The vengeance of heaven is upon Him. The bolts of God's wrath are hurled at Him, because He claimed to be the Son of God. Many who believed on Him heard His despairing cry. Hope left them. If God had forsaken Jesus, in what could His followers trust?” DA 754.3
“如果我们能够永远记得各各他，耶稣在那里承担了世人罪孽的可怕重担，那对我们来说是件好事。在他即将死去的痛苦中，听到他惊呼：“我的上帝，我的上帝，你为什么离弃我！” [马太福音 27:46.] 请记住，他忍受了天父掩面的痛苦，以免永远向堕落的人类隐藏。他忍受了羞辱、残酷的鞭打、侮辱和嘲笑，以便我们能够与上帝和解，并从无尽的死亡中被拯救出来。如果我们的思想停留在这些主题上，我们的谈话就会在天上，从那里我们寻找救主，甚至虚荣的想法也会显得不合时宜。” GW92 419.2
“Well would it be for us if we could always remember Calvary, where Jesus bore the terrible burden of the sins of the world. In his expiring agony hear him exclaim, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!” [Matthew 27:46.] and remember that he endured the hiding of his Father's face, that it might not be forever hidden from fallen man. He endured shame, cruel scourging, insult, and mockery, that we might be reconciled to God and rescued from endless death. If our minds dwell upon these themes, our conversation will be in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, and even vain thoughts will seem out of place.” GW92 419.2
2 月 10 日星期一
有很多事情我们不知道
阅读约伯记 38：1-12。神对约伯的回答如何阐明邪恶的问题？对于幕后可能发生的事情，我们知道多少或不知道多少？
Read Job 38:1–12. How does God’s answer to Job shed light on the problem of evil? How much do we know and not know about what might be going on behind the scenes?
“在寻求上帝的智慧后，所有人都必须看到并理解自己的责任。他是唯一一个你可以将你的灵魂托付给他保管的人。如果你凭信心来到他面前，他会亲自向你讲述他的奥秘。你可以与基督一同坐在天上。我们可以个别地明白神的旨意；我们可以亲自知道他要我们做什么；因为如果我们愿意在他面前奉献自己的心并谦卑下来，他就会指导我们。当主临近与我们交谈时，我们的心常常会在我们里面燃烧，就像他与以诺所做的那样。 “谁用无知的言语使忠告变得黑暗。”我们需要他，他是照亮每个来到世上的人的真光。” 6MR 381.3
“All must see and understand their duty for themselves, after seeking wisdom from God. He is the only one to whom you may commit your soul for safe-keeping. If you come to Him in faith, he will speak His mysteries to you personally. You may sit together in heavenly places with Christ. We may individually understand God's will; we may know for ourselves what He would have us do; for He will direct us if we will consent to be consecrated and humble in heart before him. Our hearts will oft burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge.” We need Him who is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” 6MR 381.3
阅读约伯记 42:3。约伯的回应如何阐明我们应该认识到自己的立场？
Read Job 42:3. How does Job’s response illuminate what we should recognize about our own position?
“那些自称基督徒却对耶稣无话可说的人对世界有什么好处呢？当他们没有为以马内利王子服务时，他们是否真的站在以马内利王子的旗帜下？你对神的律法——一切公义的标准——的研究是否使你与以赛亚一样感叹：“祸哉！因为我已经完蛋了；因为我是嘴唇不洁的人，又住在嘴唇不洁的民中。因为我亲眼见过大君王万军之耶和华”？这景象是否让你看到你唯一的希望在于基督，这位赦罪的救主？看到耶稣在十字架上为人类的罪孽而死，你有没有在十字架下痛悔，让你能像约伯一样说：“我为什么厌恶自己，在尘土和炉灰中悔改”？你是否已将你的意志完全降服于神的旨意，将你的道路完全降服于神的道路？你是否放弃了自信、自夸，并接受了耶稣，他为你创造了一切——智慧、公义、成圣和救赎？你是否认为基督是所有预表的反预表、所有影子的宝贵、荣耀的实质、所有象征的完整意义？这些预表和影子是基督亲自设立的，目的是向人类传达救赎计划的理念。” ST 1891 年 8 月 24 日，第 17 段。 3
“What benefit to the world are those professed Christians who have nothing to say about Jesus? Are they indeed standing under the banner of Prince Emmanuel when they are not doing him the service of faithful soldiers? Has your study of the law of God, the standard of all righteousness, led you to exclaim with Isaiah: “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts”? Has the sight brought you to see that your only hope is in Christ, the sin-pardoning Saviour? Has the sight of Jesus on the cross, dying for the guilt of man, brought you in contrition to the foot of the cross, so that you can say with Job, “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes”? Have you made an entire surrender of your will to God's will, your ways to God's ways? Have you renounced self-confidence, self-boasting, and accepted Jesus, who is made everything to you,—wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption? Do you see Christ as the anti-type of all the types, the precious, glorious substance of all the shadows, the full signification of all the symbols? The types and shadows were instituted by Christ himself, to transmit to man an idea of the plan devised for his redemption.” ST August 24, 1891, par. 3
2 月 11 日，星期二
持怀疑态度的有神论者
阅读诗篇 73。诗篇作者如何对待周围的邪恶和不公正？他看到了什么使他从不同的角度理解？
Read Psalm 73. How does the psalmist approach the evil and injustice around him? What does he see that puts his understanding in a different perspective?
“神的忍耐是奇妙的。当怜悯向罪人恳求时，正义却等待了很长时间。但“公义和公平是他宝座的根基”。诗篇 97:2，边缘。 “耶和华不轻易发怒；”但他“大有能力，决不以恶人为无罪；耶和华在旋风和暴风雨中施行他的道，云彩是他脚下的尘土”。那鸿书 1:3。颜色 177.4
“The long-suffering of God is wonderful. Long does justice wait while mercy pleads with the sinner. But “righteousness and judgment are the establishment of His throne.” Psalm 97:2, margin. “The Lord is slow to anger;” but He is “great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Nahum 1:3. COL 177.4
“世界已经变得大胆地违背上帝的律法。因着他长久的忍耐，人就践踏他的权柄。他们互相强化，压迫和残酷地对待他的遗产，说：“上帝怎么知道呢？至高者有知识吗？诗篇 73:11。但有一条线是他们无法逾越的。他们达到规定限度的时间已经临近了。即使现在，他们也几乎超出了上帝长久忍耐的限度、他恩典的限度、他仁慈的限度。主会介入以维护他自己的荣耀，拯救他的子民，并压制不义的膨胀。颜色 177.5
“The world has become bold in transgression of God's law. Because of His long forbearance, men have trampled upon His authority. They have strengthened one another in oppression and cruelty toward His heritage, saying, “How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?” Psalm 73:11. But there is a line beyond which they cannot pass. The time is near when they will have reached the prescribed limit. Even now they have almost exceeded the bounds of the long-suffering of God, the limits of His grace, the limits of His mercy. The Lord will interpose to vindicate His own honor, to deliver His people, and to repress the swellings of unrighteousness. COL 177.5
“在诺亚的时代，人们无视上帝的律法，直到几乎所有对造物主的记忆都从地球上消失了。他们的罪孽如此之深，以致主在地上降下洪水，冲走了邪恶的居民。颜色 178.1
“In Noah's day, men had disregarded the law of God until almost all remembrance of the Creator had passed away from the earth. Their iniquity reached so great a height that the Lord brought a flood of waters upon the earth, and swept away its wicked inhabitants. COL 178.1
“主世世代代地表明了他工作的方式。当危机来临时，他就会显现自己，并介入阻止撒但计划的实施。对于国家、对于家庭、对于个人，他经常允许事情陷入危机，以便他的干预变得明显。然后他表明以色列有一位神会维护他的律法并为他的子民伸冤。颜色 178.2
“From age to age the Lord has made known the manner of His working. When a crisis has come, He has revealed Himself, and has interposed to hinder the working out of Satan's plans. With nations, with families, and with individuals, He has often permitted matters to come to a crisis, that His interference might become marked. Then He has made manifest that there is a God in Israel who will maintain His law and vindicate His people. COL 178.2
“在这个罪恶盛行的时代，我们可能知道最后一场巨大的危机即将来临。当藐视上帝律法的现象几乎普遍存在时，当上帝的子民受到同胞的压迫和折磨时，上帝就会介入。”颜色 178.3
“In this time of prevailing iniquity we may know that the last great crisis is at hand. When the defiance of God's law is almost universal, when His people are oppressed and afflicted by their fellow men, the Lord will interpose.” COL 178.3
2 月 12 日星期三
自由意志辩护
阅读创世记 2:16, 17。这些经文如何显示亚当和夏娃所享有的道德自由？
Read Genesis 2:16, 17. How do these verses display the moral freedom granted to Adam and Eve?
“天使仁慈且充满爱心地向他们提供了他们想要的信息。他们还向他们讲述了撒但背叛和堕落的悲惨历史。然后他们明确地告诉他们，知识树被放置在花园里，作为他们对上帝的服从和热爱的保证；圣天使的崇高而幸福的地位将在服从的条件下得到保留；他们的处境相似；他们可以遵守上帝的律法而获得难以言喻的幸福，也可以违背上帝的律法而失去崇高的地位，陷入无望的绝望之中。 SR 29.3
“The angels graciously and lovingly gave them the information they desired. They also gave them the sad history of Satan's rebellion and fall. They then distinctly informed them that the tree of knowledge was placed in the garden to be a pledge of their obedience and love to God; that the high and happy estate of the holy angels was to be retained upon condition of obedience; that they were similarly situated; that they could obey the law of God and be inexpressibly happy, or disobey and lose their high estate and be plunged into hopeless despair. SR 29.3
“他们告诉亚当和夏娃，上帝不会强迫他们服从——他并没有剥夺他们违背他意愿的权力；他们是道德主体，可以自由地服从或不服从。迄今为止，上帝认为适合对他们施加的禁令只有一项。如果他们违背了神的旨意，他们就必死无疑。他们告诉亚当和夏娃，仅次于基督的最崇高的天使拒绝服从上帝命定统治天上众生的律法。这次叛乱在天上引起了战争，导致叛逆者被逐出天堂，所有与他联合起来质疑伟大耶和华权威的天使都被逐出天堂；这个堕落的敌人现在是所有关心上帝和他爱子利益的人的敌人。 SR 30.1
“They told Adam and Eve that God would not compel them to obey—that He had not removed from them power to go contrary to His will; that they were moral agents, free to obey or disobey. There was but one prohibition that God had seen fit to lay upon them as yet. If they should transgress the will of God they would surely die. They told Adam and Eve that the most exalted angel, next in order to Christ, refused obedience to the law of God which He had ordained to govern heavenly beings; that this rebellion had caused war in heaven, which resulted in the rebellious being expelled therefrom, and every angel was driven out of heaven who had united with him in questioning the authority of the great Jehovah; and that this fallen foe was now an enemy to all that concerned the interest of God and His dear Son. SR 30.1
“他们告诉他们，撒旦有意要伤害他们，因此有必要保护他们，因为他们可能会接触到堕落的敌人；但当他们服从上帝的命令时，他不能伤害他们，因为如果有必要，天上的每一位天使都会来帮助他们，而不是他以任何方式伤害他们。但如果他们违背神的命令，撒但就会有能力永远骚扰、困扰和困扰他们。如果他们坚定不移地抵制撒旦的第一次暗示，他们就会像天上的天使一样安全。但如果他们屈服于试探者，那不饶恕尊贵天使的主也不会饶恕他们。他们必须承受他们的过犯的惩罚，因为上帝的律法和他一样神圣，他要求天上地下的所有人绝对服从。” SR 30.2
“They told them that Satan purposed to do them harm, and it was necessary for them to be guarded, for they might come in contact with the fallen foe; but he could not harm them while they yielded obedience to God's command, for, if necessary, every angel from heaven would come to their help rather than that he should in any way do them harm. But if they disobeyed the command of God, then Satan would have power to ever annoy, perplex, and trouble them. If they remained steadfast against the first insinuations of Satan, they were as secure as the heavenly angels. But if they yielded to the tempter, He who spared not the exalted angels would not spare them. They must suffer the penalty of their transgression, for the law of God was as sacred as Himself, and He required implicit obedience from all in heaven and on earth.” SR 30.2
2 月 13 日，星期四
爱与恶
阅读罗马书 8:18 和启示录 21:3, 4。这些经文如何让我们有信心相信神的良善，尽管我们的世界充满罪恶？
Read Romans 8:18 and Revelation 21:3, 4. How can these texts give us confidence to trust in God’s goodness, despite all the evil in our world?
“虽然主没有应许他的子民免受考验，但他已经应许了更好的事情。他说过：“你的日子怎样，你的力量也怎样。” “我的恩典够你用的：因为我的能力在人的软弱上显得完全。”申命记 33:25;哥林多后书 12:9。如果你被呼召为他的缘故经历火炉，耶稣就会在你身边，就像他在巴比伦与忠信的三个人在一起一样。那些爱他们的救赎主的人会因每一个与他分享羞辱和责备的机会而感到高兴。他们对主的爱使为他而受的苦难变得甘甜。 MB 30.1
“While the Lord has not promised His people exemption from trials, He has promised that which is far better. He has said, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Deuteronomy 33:25; 2 Corinthians 12:9. If you are called to go through the fiery furnace for His sake, Jesus will be by your side even as He was with the faithful three in Babylon. Those who love their Redeemer will rejoice at every opportunity of sharing with Him humiliation and reproach. The love they bear their Lord makes suffering for His sake sweet. MB 30.1
“历代以来，撒旦一直迫害上帝的子民。他折磨他们并处死他们，但在死亡中他们成为了征服者。他们以坚定的信心彰显了一位比撒旦更强大的存在。撒但可以折磨并杀害身体，但他无法触及与基督一同藏在神里面的生命。他可以将他囚禁在监狱的高墙内，但他无法束缚灵魂。他们可以越过阴暗而看到荣耀，说：“我想，现在的苦难与将来要显于我们的荣耀相比，就微不足道了。” “我们这至暂至轻的苦楚，要为我们成就极重无比、永远的荣耀。”罗马书 8:18;哥林多后书 4:17。 MB 30.2
“In all ages Satan has persecuted the people of God. He has tortured them and put them to death, but in dying they became conquerors. They revealed in their steadfast faith a mightier One than Satan. Satan could torture and kill the body, but he could not touch the life that was hid with Christ in God. He could incarcerate in prison walls, but he could not bind the spirit. They could look beyond the gloom to the glory, saying, “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17. MB 30.2
“通过考验和逼迫，神的荣耀——品格——在他所拣选的人身上彰显出来。上帝的教会虽然受到世人的憎恨和逼迫，却在基督的学校里受到教育和管教。他们走在地上狭窄的小路上；他们在苦难的熔炉中得到净化。他们跟随基督度过痛苦的冲突；他们忍受自我否定，经历痛苦的失望；但他们痛苦的经历使他们认识到罪的罪孽和祸患，并以憎恶的眼光看待它。他们既分享了基督的苦难，就注定要分享他的荣耀。先知在神圣的异象中看到了上帝子民的胜利。他说：“我看见一片玻璃海，与火混合在一起：那些得胜的人……站在玻璃海上，拿着上帝的竖琴。他们唱上帝仆人摩西的歌和羔羊的歌，说，全能的主上帝啊，你的作为又大又奇！圣人之王啊，你的道路既公正又真实。” ‘这些人是从大患难中出来的，用羔羊的血洗净了自己的衣袍，把它们洗白了。因此，他们在神的宝座前，昼夜在他的殿里事奉他；坐宝座的必住在他们中间。’”《启示录》15:2, 3； 7:14, 15. MB 31.1
“Through trials and persecution, the glory—character—of God is revealed in His chosen ones. The church of God, hated and persecuted by the world, are educated and disciplined in the school of Christ. They walk in narrow paths on earth; they are purified in the furnace of affliction. They follow Christ through sore conflicts; they endure self-denial and experience bitter disappointments; but their painful experience teaches them the guilt and woe of sin, and they look upon it with abhorrence. Being partakers of Christ's sufferings, they are destined to be partakers of His glory. In holy vision the prophet saw the triumph of the people of God. He says, “I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory, ... stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.” ‘These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.’” Revelation 15:2, 3; 7:14, 15. MB 31.1
2 月 14 日星期五
进一步的思考
“在邪恶到来之前，整个宇宙充满了和平与欢乐。一切都与造物主的意志完美和谐。对上帝的爱是至高无上的，对彼此的爱也是不偏不倚的。基督，上帝的独生子，与永恒的天父合而为一，在本质、性格和目的上都是一体的，是全宇宙中唯一能够参与上帝所有计划和目的的存在。借着父基督，创造了所有天上的生物。 “天上的万物都是借着他造的，……无论是有位的、主治的、执政的、掌权的”（歌罗西书 1:16）；全天庭都向基督效忠，与天父同样效忠。 GC 493.1
“Before the entrance of evil there was peace and joy throughout the universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator's will. Love for God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Christ the Word, the Only Begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,—one in nature, in character, and in purpose,—the only being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. By Christ the Father wrought in the creation of all heavenly beings. “By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, ... whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers” (Colossians 1:16); and to Christ, equally with the Father, all heaven gave allegiance. GC 493.1
“爱的法则是上帝政府的基础，所有受造物的幸福取决于他们是否完全符合其伟大的正义原则。上帝希望他所有的创造物都怀有爱的服务——源于对他品格的明智欣赏而产生的敬意。他不喜欢强迫效忠，他给予所有人意志自由，以便他们自愿为他服务。 GC 493.2
“The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all created beings depended upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love—homage that springs from an intelligent appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced allegiance, and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service. GC 493.2
“但有人选择破坏这种自由。罪起源于他，他是仅次于基督的最受上帝尊敬的人，也是天上居民中权力和荣耀最高的人。在堕落之前，路西弗是第一位遮盖基路伯，圣洁无染。 “主耶和华如此说；你将一切都密封起来，充满智慧，完美美丽。你曾在上帝的伊甸园；每颗宝石都是你的遮盖物……你是遮盖的受膏基路伯；我已将你安置在神的圣山上；你在火石中间来回走动。你从受造之日起，所行的都是完全的，直到在你身上查出有罪孽为止。”以西结书 28:12-15。” GC 493.3
“But there was one that chose to pervert this freedom. Sin originated with him who, next to Christ, had been most honored of God and who stood highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of heaven. Before his fall, Lucifer was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. “Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering.... Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:12-15.” GC 493.3